Akasma bent glass center piece, 2002 – Design Satyendra Pakhalé for RSVP, Italy, Photo: RSVP, IT
“Change is the only constant thing in life”
-As a child what did you want to become (profession-wise)? An inventor; somebody who creates and makes things.
-In which town did you grow up?
First in Washim, then in Nagpur, then in Bombay, India. and then (we lived in) La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland.
-Do you think your background influences your cur- rent art/design style? If so, what specific element in your background is most pervasive in influencing your current art/design style?
Indeed, the background is always part of oneself, and it’s an indispensable part of one’s own formation. However, it is extremely hard to say what exactly influences one’s cre- ative output at any given time. I will leave that to critics.
-What inspires you in the job of being a designer?
To be able to give birth to a humanistic idea and then to develop it further into a tangible reality -- like an object or a product that will hopefully become part of people’s lives - is an incredibly inspirational part of being a designer.
-Do you have any other creative ambitions or dreams to which you aspire?
My objective has always been to create in all sorts of di- rections and all sorts of manners -- wherever my curiosity takes me…to conceive a setting for a music video would be fantastic.
-Which basic elements of creativity did your family teach you?
To be human at a fundamental level -- perhaps that cov- ers almost everything…To create, one ought to have criti- cal opinions and world views, and above all, self-critical perspective and a highly cultivated mind.
-What is the most fun part of your job? To create…to dream…to build…to make it real.
-Do you expect your way of creating design to change in the future?
Change is the only constant thing in life. Inevitably, what- ever one does shapes the world. Whether it will change or not, one does not know. I hope it changes for good purposes.
-Do you embrace the changes in the design industry regarding social media and technology influences?
In any given time in our collective human history, there al- ways has been a change. It is perhaps the most constant thing on our planet. Once we understand that condition, there is no question of accepting or rejecting such a con- dition. Personally, for me, any evolution or revolution in technology of any kind is grandly welcomed.
Eyes in | 53
-Do you have a favorite designer? Not one favorite but many for various reasons….
-What is the most difficult thing in your job?
Creation is an adventure: It’s like venturing into unknown territory, and that is exciting. However, one needs a part- ner, client or patron. It may not be the most difficult thing to get a client, but perhaps it is the most challenging thing to cultivate a long-term relationship with the so-called ‘cli- ent’ -- or shall I say ‘patron’ -- to eventually take together those new creative ideas on board wholeheartedly and invest in them.
-How did you get the idea of making this type of design?
There was never one Eureka moment – (instead) it de- veloped over a period of time; it is continuously evolving; and I hope it continues to be cultivated endlessly.